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Tony, Great story! Thanks for taking the time to post it. In my opinion, I would redo the car as close to original as possible, with the exception of A/C and tunes as you mentioned. We're all getting older, and creature comforts are nice! All of the original interior stuff that was trashed is available from the vendors. It fits and looks great, and is probably cheaper than a custom interior. Also, it will bring back those precious memories to your dad when he sees it! (As an aside, the car will be worth more). I recommend rebuilding the original 400. They are great runners. Also, the car will be as original for memory's sake. Not to brag, and with all due respect, I have NEVER been beaten by a big block Chevy. I beat an LS6 454 with my '67 ragtop with a stock 400. I don't know what his problem was. I beat a friend who put a built 396 in his '67 Firebiird, with the same '67 ragtop, with 167000 milles on the clock and a burnt intake valve! I beat another friend with a '66 SS396 with my automatic, 2 speed, 4 bbl '65. Bad. So bad that he sold the SS and bought a 67 GTO!!! Another friend had a built 69 Chevelle with a 396, and my buddy used to smoke him all the time with a bone stock, '67 GTO hardtop with AC, Automatic trans and 2.93 gears!!! The closest I ever came to losing was to a '68 Z-28, with the cross-ram 302. I beat him by two car lengths with my '66 GTO with a 389. He had over 5k in his motor (1981) and mine cost me 1200 to build. (Yes, I did get smoked by a 440 roadrunner one time....ouch!). The list goes on and on....It sounds like you're doing a really honorable thing, and I think all here can appreciate it. Whatever your choice is, good luck, and we'll help all we can. Oh yeah.....did I mention to keep a Pontiac engine in the car??
Jeff
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